Petar Popović

Kale-Krševica, izbor metalnih Kale-Krševica: a selection of

nalaza s akropole metallic finds from the acropolis

Petar Popović Petar Popović

27. marta 28 27. marta 28
SRBIJA, 11120 Beograd SERBIA, 11120 Belgrade
petar.popovic@gmx.com petar.popovic@gmx.com

UDK: 902/904(497.11Kale-Krševica) UDC: 902/904(497.11Kale-Krševica)

Pregledni članak Review article
Primljeno: 15. 5. 2017. Received: 15 May 2017
Prihvaćeno: 30. 5. 2017. Accepted: 30 May 2017

Na akropoli Kale-Krševica otkrivena su i četiri Four metallic items of a type used in workshops
metalna predmeta kakvi se koriste u radionicama. To were found at the Kale-Krševica acropolis. These are:
su: kalup za izradu lunulastih naušnica, dva olovna a punch for making lunular earrings, two lead weights
utega i vjerojatno vaga. and, likely, a scale.

Ključne riječi: kalup, lunulaste naušnice, olovni Key words: punch, lunular earrings, lead weight,
uteg, vaga scale

275
VAHD 110-1, 2017, 275-280
Sl. 1. Pogled na akropolu 2003. (foto: M. Jeremić)
Fig. 1. View of the acropolis in 2003 (photo: M.
Jeremić)
Prva arheološka iskopavanja u Krševici započela
su godine 1966. Nakon istraživanja na akropoli posta-
lo je razvidno da je lokalitet značajan zbog dominan-
tne količine grčkog materijala (Mikulčić, Jovanović
1968). Daljnjih iskopavanja na ovom značajnom lo-
kalitetu nije bilo sve do 2001. godine (Kale-Krsevica.
com).
Akropola na Krševici leži na obroncima planine
Rujan, između doline Južne Morave i Vranjske kotli-
ne, a potječe iz prapovijesnog razdoblja. Na masivu
iznad Krševičke reke nalazi se plato s ostacima utvr-
đenja i s kompleksom građevina na središnjem dijelu
prostora (sl. 1). Prilikom sondiranja otkriveni su ele-
menti arhitekture, ostaci javnih građevina, kao i do-
sta arheološkog materijala s obiljem ulomaka slikane
keramike, nakitom i numizmatikom (Popović 2007a;
Popović 2007b). Akropola se nalazi na dominantnom
mjestu, a glavni dio naselja, koje se prostiralo na oko
4 ha, nalazio se istočno od akropole, na padini pre-
ma Krševičkoj reci. Zbog značenja naselja arheološka
iskopavanja nastavljena su u donjem dijelu padine i
na ravnom prostoru prema rijeci. Tokom istraživanja
otvoren je dio naselja sa značajnim ostacima arhitek-
ture kao i velikom količinom arheološkog materijala.
Naselje je smješteno na strmoj padini pa su zbog jake
erozije arheološki nalazi formirani u podnožju ili u
velikim kulturnim slojevima u podgrađu. Zbog jakih
podzemnih voda arheološka iskopavanja bila su veoma
spora i složena, jer su istraživanja u ovom dijelu bila
moguća samo uz pomoć stalnog rada crpki za vodu.
Do godine 2011., kada su podzemne vode onemogu-
ćile daljnji rad na tom mjestu, u podnožju je ispitan
prostor od oko 1000 metara četvornih (sl. 2). Otkriven
je raznovrstan materijal, počevši od velike količine ži-
votinjskih kostiju, obične i slikane keramike, amfora,
veći broj metalnih i kamenih predmeta koji bi u kro-
nološkom smislu odgovarali IV. st. pr. Kr. i početku
III. st. Razvidno je da je naselje bilo značajno, očito
276
Sl. 2. Iskopavanja u Krševici 2008. (foto: A.
Đorđević)
Fig. 2. Krševica excavations in 2008 (photo: A.
Đorđević)
The first archaeological excavations at Krševica
began in 1966. After investigations at the acropo-
lis, it became apparent that the site was significant
due to the predominance of ancient Greek materials
(Mikulčić, Jovanović 1968). Further excavations at
this important site did not resume until 2001 (Kale-
Krsevica.com).
The acropolis at Krševica rests on the slopes of
Mt. Rujan, between the valley of the South Morava
and the Vranje Valley, and it dates to the prehistoric
era. The remains of a fortification and a complex of
buildings in the central part of the location (Fig. 1)
are situated on a plateau on the massif overlooking
the Krševička River. During test excavations, archi-
tectural elements, the remains of public buildings and
a considerable quantity of archaeological materials
with an abundance of painted pottery, jewellery and
coins were found (Popović 2007a; Popović 2007b).
The acropolis is located on a dominant point, and
the main portion of the settlement, which extended
over 4 ha, was east of the acropolis, on a slope to-
ward the Krševička River. Due to the significance of
the settlement, archaeological excavations continued
down the lower part of the slope and in the flat area
in the direction of the river. During these excavations,
a part of the settlement was opened to reveal signifi-
cant architectural remains and a considerable quantity
of archaeological materials. The settlement was situ-
ated on a steep slope, so due to intense erosion, the
archaeological finds were clustered at its foot or in
large cultural layers in the settlement’s periphery. The
voluminous groundwater meant that the archaeologi-
cal excavations were slow-going and complex, be-
cause work in these section could only be done with
the constant operation of a water pump. Until 2011,
when the groundwater prevented any further work at
this location, an area of roughly 1,000 square meters
Petar Popović, Kale-Krševica, izbor metalnih nalaza s akropole
Kale-Krševica: a selection of metallic finds from the acropolis

Sl. 3. 1-4 nalazi s akropole, 5 zlatna naušnica iz Demir Kapije (foto: N. Borić)
Fig. 3. 1-4 finds from the acropolis, 5 golden earring from Demir Kapija (photo: N. Borić)

s dobrim vezama s Makedonijom i Grčkom (Popović
2012). Rezultati i analogije odmah su otvorili pitanje
o razlogu zbog kojeg se u središtu Balkana, u dolini
Južne Morave, formira utvrđeno naselje s helenistič-
kim značajkama. Za vrijeme iskopavanja je na osnovi
arhitekture i brojnih nalaza iznesena pretpostavka da
se radi o ostacima rudarskog grada Damastiona, koji
je u IV. st. pr. Kr. kovao srebrni novac (Popović, Vra-
nić 2013). Lokalitet je samo djelomično istražen i na
osnovi rezultata iznesena je i pretpostavka da se u Ka-
le-Krševici nalazio emporij (Guštin, Kuzman 2016)
Za ovu priliku načinili smo mali izbor nalaza s
akropole.
1. Na jugozapadnom su dijelu akropole u sondi (S
44-47) godine 2002., pored drugih nalaza, uglavnom
ulomaka oslikane keramike, otkrivene dvije srebrne
drahme Aleksandra Velikog, kao i brončani predmet
cilindričnog oblika. Pokazalo se da je to dragocjena
alatka - kalup za kovanje lunulastih naušnica od zlata,
srebra ili bronce (sl. 3-4). Takve naušnice izrađivane
su kovanjem pomoću kalupa kao što je ovaj nađen na
akropoli, od dva metalna dijela koji su potom spajani
(Triester 2001, str. 90, 186). Lunulaste naušnice po-
znate su i s motiva na novcu, a među mnogobrojnim
(Fig. 2) at the foot of the slope was investigated. A va-
riety of materials were discovered, beginning with a
large quantity of animal bones, unadorned and paint-
ed pottery, amphorae, and numerous metallic and
stone items which would chronologically correspond
to the 4th century and early 3rd century BC. It is appar-
ent that this was an important settlement, given the
good ties to Macedonia and Greece (Popović 2012).
The results and analogies immediately opened the
question of why a fortified settlement with Hellenis-
tic features would have developed in the valley of the
South Morava. During excavations, a hypothesis was
formulated on the basis of the architecture and numer-
ous finds that they are the remains of the mining city
Damastion, which minted silver coins in the 4th centu-
ry BC (Popović, Vranić 2013). The site has only been
partially examined, but based on the results, a further
hypothesis was made according to which there was an
emporium at Kale-Krševica (Guštin, Kuzman 2016).
On this occasion, I have compiled a limited selec-
tion of finds from the acropolis.
1. Two silver drachmas of Alexander the Great and
a bronze item with a cylindrical shape were found in
the south-western part of the acropolis in a test trench

277
VAHD 110-1, 2017, 275-280
Sl. 4. Nalazi s akropole (crteži: A. Kapuran)
Fig. 4. Finds from the acropolis (sketches: A. Kapuran)
nalazima možemo izdvojiti par zlatnih, umjetničke
izrade, s nekropole Derveni, kao i jednostavnije nauš-
nice od bronce iz Olinta (Olynthos) (Franke, Maratha-
ki 1999, str. 56; Touratsoglou, Themelis 1997, str. 26;
Robinson 1941, Pl. XVII-XVIII).
Tokom iskopavanja nije nađena nijedna naušnica
ovog tipa, ali treba spomenuti zlatnu naušnicu iz De-
mir Kapije (sl. 3.5), koja se nalazi u Narodnom muzeju
u Beogradu (Popović Lj. 1994, 192). Ta vrsta naušni-
ca, ukrašenih rozetama, privjescima, s granulacijama
i filigranom, bila je dugo veoma cijenjena. Javljaju
se od kraja V. st. pr. n. e. i posebno u IV. st. pr. Kr.
oko Halkidike i Tesalonike, veći broj nalaza potječe
iz Makedonije (Skoplje), središnjeg Balkana, Trakije,
Bugarske i Velike Grčke u Italiji (Vasić 1991). Iz Pela-
gonije i doline Vardara zabilježeno je više primjeraka,
ne samo naušnica nego i ostalog nakita, što ukazuje da
su na tom prostoru postojale radionice vještih zanatli-
ja koji su izrađivali skupocjeni nakit za makedonsku
elitu (Bitrakova-Grozdanova 2003, 280-281; Guštin,
Kuzman 2016). Kalup za izradu lunulastih naušnica
otkriven na akropoli vjerojatno je dio alata koji je pri-
padao majstoru ili radionici za izradu nakita.
2. - 3. U sondi na središnjem dijelu akropole go-
dine 2004. otkriven je kvadratni olovni uteg težine
42,20 g koji na prednjoj strani ima oznaku ∆Ρ. Pre-
ma jasnim oznakama i atičkim standardima ovaj uteg
ima težinu od 10 drahmi. Drugi sličan uteg otkriven
278
(S 44-47) in 2002 among other finds, mainly sherds
of painted pottery. The bronze article proved to be a
valuable tool - a punch to cast lunular earrings made
of gold silver or bronze (Fig. 3-4). Such earrings were
made by casting with the help of a punch like this one
found at the acropolis, with two metal components
that were then soldered (Triester 2001, p. 90, 186).
Lunular earrings were also known as motifs on coins,
and among the numerous finds notable examples are a
pair of golden, artistically rendered earrings from the
Derveni necropolis, as well as the simpler bronze ear-
rings from Olynthos (Franke, Marathaki 1999, p. 56;
Touratsoglou, Themelis 1997, p. 26; Robinson 1941,
Pl. XVII-XVIII).
During excavations, not one earring of this type
was found, but a noteworthy example is the earring
from Demir Kapija (Fig. 3.5), which is held in the Na-
tional Museum in Belgrade (Popović Lj. 1994, 192).
This type of earring, adorned with rosettes, pendants
and granulation and filigree, was quite valued over a
long period. It appeared since the end of the 5th cen-
tury BC, and particularly in the 4th century BC, around
Chalcis and Thessalonica, while a high number of
finds were originally from Macedonia (Skoplje), the
central Balkans, Thrace, Bulgaria and Magna Grae-
cia in Italy (Vasić 1991). Several examples, not just
earrings but also other types of jewellery, were from
Pelagonia and the Vardar Valley, which indicates that
Petar Popović, Kale-Krševica, izbor metalnih nalaza s akropole
Kale-Krševica: a selection of metallic finds from the acropolis
je na sjeveroistočnom dijelu akropole 2001. godine. S
prednje strane tog također olovnog utega stoji oznaka
Ε, a s druge strane je duboko zasječen, tako da je nje-
gova težina reducirana. Zbog toga je teže procijeniti i
rastumačiti njegovu težinu (37,96 g).
4. U središnjem dijelu akropole godine 2003. ot-
kriven je pomno obrađen brončani predmet, nažalost
djelomično deformiran, koji je očito imao namjenu,
ali je ona nejasna. S obzirom na prethodne nalaze, u
nedostatku izravne analogije, može se prema obliku
pretpostaviti da je bio dio neka vrsta vage.
Ovih nekoliko nalaza, gledamo li ih kao cjelinu
izgleda kao da pripadaju radionici. Dosadašnja istra-
živanja, međutim, nisu dala drugih naznaka da se ra-
dionica ondje nalazila.
Utvrđeno naselje u Krševici očito je značajan lo-
kalitet, ali tek kad se istraži i dio naselja koje je na pa-
dini ispod akropole, možemo se nadati da ćemo dobiti
točnije podatke o njegovoj povijesti, od formiranja
grčkog naselja do kasnijeg razdoblja, o kojem svjedo-
če mnogobrojni keltski nalazi otkriveni na akropoli.
Ovaj kratak tekst o nekoliko nalaza iz Krševice po-
svećen je dragom kolegi i prijatelju Branku Kiriginu.
there were workshops there employing skilled crafts-
men who made expensive jewellery for the Mace-
donian elite (Bitrakova-Grozdanova 2003, 280-281;
Guštin, Kuzman 2016). The punch for making lunular
earrings discovered at the acropolis was probably part
of a tool that had belonged to a master craftsman or a
workshop that manufactured jewellery.
2. - 3. A square lead weight weighing 42.2 kg with
the designation ∆Ρ on its front was discovered in a
test trench in the central section of the acropolis. Ac-
cording to clear designations and Attic standards, this
weight weighed 10 drachmas. Another similar weight
was discovered in the north-eastern section of the
acropolis in 2001. That weight has the designation Ε
on its front, while it has a deep cut on other side, so
that its actual weight has been greatly reduced. Thus,
it is much more difficult to determine and understand
its weight (37.96 g).
4. A carefully rendered bronze item, unfortunately
partially deformed, was found in the central section
of the acropolis in 2003. It obviously had a purpose,
although what it was is not clear. Given the preceding
finds, and in the absence of direct analogies, it may be
assumed that it was part of some type of scale.
If these several finds are viewed as a set, then it
would appear that they had belonged to a workshop.
All previous research, however, has not yielded any
other indications that there had, in fact, been a work-
shop there.
The fortified settlement at Krševica was obviously
an important location, but only when that part of it
on the slope below the acropolis is excavated will we
have any hope of obtaining more precise data on its
history, from the formation of the Greek settlement to
the later period, to which the numerous Celtic finds
discovered at the acropolis testify.
This brief text on several finds from Krševica is
dedicated to my dear colleague and friend, Branko
Kirigin.
279
VAHD 110-1, 2017, 275-280

literatura / Bibliography

Bitrakova-Grozdanova 2003 V. Bitrakova-Grozdanova, Naušnica sa priveskom u obliku hipokampa iz Ohrida,

Opvscvla Arhaeologica 27, Zagreb 2003, 277-282.
Franke, Marathaki 1999 P. Franke, I. Marathaki, Wine and Coins in Ancient Grece, Athens 1999.
Guštin, Kuzman 2016 M. Guštin, P. Kuzman, The Elitte, The Upper Vardar river region in the period
from the reign of Philip II of Macedon until the reign of Diadochi, in: Funerary
Practices During the Bronze and Iron Age in Central and Southeast Europe, Sîrbu,
Jevtić, Dmitrović, Ljuština (eds.), Beograd - Čačak 2016, 313-332.
Mikulčić, Jovanović 1968 I. Mikulčić, M. Jovanović, Helenistički oppidum iz Krševice kod Vranja, Vranjski
glasnik IV, Vranje 1998, 355-375.
Popović Lj. 1994 Lj. Popović, Antička grčka zbirka, Narodni muzej Beograd, Beograd 1994.
Popović 2007a P. Popović, Nakit iz Krševice, in: Scripta Prahistorica in honorem Biba Teržan
Blečić, Črešnar, Hänsel, Helmuth, Kaiser, Metzner-Nebelsick (eds.), Situla 44,
Ljubljana 2007, 813-820.
Popović 2007b P. Popović, Numismatic finds of the 4th and 3rd century BC from Kale at Krševica
(Southeastern Serbia), Arheološki Vestnik 58, Ljubljana 2007, 411-417.
Popović 2012 P. Popović, Central Balkans Between Greek and Celtic World, Beograd 2012.
Popović, Vranić 2013 P. Popović, I. Vranić, One Possible Location of Damastion - Kale by Krševica
(South-Eastern Serbia), in: The Bosporus: Gateway Between Ancient West and
East (1st Millenium BC-5th Century AD), Tsetskhladze, Atasoy, Avram, Dönmez,
Hargrave (eds.), BAR Int. Ser. 2517, Devon 2013, 309-313.
Robinson 1941 D. M. Robinson, Excavations at Olynthos άX, Baltimore 1941.
Torbov, Antonov 2002 N. Torbov, D. Antonov, Bronze Tools from North-Western Bulgaria (6th-1st Centu-
ries BC), Archaeologia Bulgarica VI, Sofia 2002, 37-53.
Touratsoglou,Themelis 1997 P. G. Touratsoglou, G. P. Themelis, Οι τάφοι τον ∆ερβενίου, Athens 1997.
Treister 2001 M. Treister, Hammering Techniques in Greek and Roman Jewellery and Toreutics
Leiden - Boston - Koeln 2001.
Vasić 1991 R. Vasić, Boat shaped earrings in the Central Balkans area, Starinar XL-XLI/1989-
1990, Beograd 1991, 135-140.

280